Indicator top



March 2 1926.

B. L. HENRY INDICATOR TOP Filed Jan. 23, 1924 Patented Mar. 2, 1926.

,UNITED STATES 1,575,264 PATENT: OFFICE.

BEULAH L. HENRY, OF YORK, N. Y.

InnrcAToa. Tor.

' I Application filed January 23, 1924. Serial No. 687,895.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, BEULAH L. HENRY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improved Indicator Tops, of which the fol# Y lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devrces which are used in connection with gaines of various kinds where the movef ments of the men, or pieces, forming part ot such games are regulated by the showv ing of said devices.

It' consists in a new and improved indicator top constructed to hold a number of vari-colored balls which are freely movable past a series of holes piercing the section oi' the top which holds the balls, the balls being adapted to register with the holes when the top, .after being spun, has come to rest.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel device, capable of many combinations, `for governing the movement of pieces in certain games, and .one which may take the place of other means, such as dice, for instance, now used Jor the same purpose.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this application, y

Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved top:

FigA 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-,3 oi* Fig. 2.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the different figures.

In the drawings 1 designates the rounded end or spinning tip 'of the top, from' which extends a stem 2. Encircling the stem are a hollow section 3, having Vin it a series of openings 4, and the upper section or head, 5, of the top. The opening in the latter for the reception of the stem is threaded. These parts are movable relatively to one another, the enlarged end 6 of the stem 2, and the tip, 1, fastened to the same, limiting the said movement.

The central hollow section 3 is preferablv six-sided, each of which may be difterently colored, and while closed at the top it is open at its lower end, the plane upper sur- 'face of the tip 1 serving as a closure for the latter, and as a `ground on which the balls move as hereinafter described. The opening for the stem in the hollow section is not threaded, the latter being freely slidable on the stem.

The lower end of the stem 2 is fitted into a vertically projecting portion 7 of the tip 1. This portion 7 is of greater circumference than the stem 2, and extends upward to a point slightly beyond the upper surface oi the centralV .section 3, from which point the stem is screw-threaded at 8 a short distance, whenl its diameter is reduced and then gradually increasedvto form the kenlarged part 6. The head 5 and the central section 3 are preferably placed upon the stembefore the lower end of the latter is fitted Vinto theportionl 7 of the tip 1. By this construction it will be possible for the central hollow section 3 to rotate independently of the head and tip of the top, as the head 5 can not be so tightly screwed uponthe said section 3 as to hold .it stationary, owing to theV slight extension abovevthe said central ot the central section, thus permitting the parts to be so closely fitted together that the top, when ready for use, will act as a unit: that is, the central section will not rotate independently of the tip.

10 are balls of differing colors. `'.-These are placed in the section 3 by reversing the position of the top, unscrewing the head 5 and permitting it to rest upon the enlarged part 6 of the stem. The section 3 will then drop upon the head 5, and the balls placed in position-through the space thus made between the tip 1 and the said central section.

My'device is susceptible of many combinations which may be varied at the will oi the players. To illustrate one plan, we will assume, for instance, that it is to be used in a game of cross-country where the men are to be moved from point to point, which may be reckoned in miles, each ball being understood to represent a certain number of miles. The green ball being entitled say to ten miles, the top is spun and when it.

it happens toregister with loe-insa green side ofthe central section; the distance-#won is doubled, whereupon the player isentitledW to another chance. 'If thesame combination shows on the next play the distance ist trebled. Or if another colored ball.;regis` ters with a side 'of the same color the distance gained is variedxto."accord,wit-bathe.`Vl

' isters withk the uppermost lfopen-ing -Will entitle theplayer to move his man the additional-- distance indicated, while if the zero mark registers` with the uppermost opening the playerfwins nothing.v i

I `doj not-lirnit myself to the precise construction shown as various' changes' rnays' be inadeE thereinwithout departing yfronr'iny inventive idea; Y The coloredsides Vmayl be dispensed? with, the parts'when'assembled madefrigid, or immovable relatively to one another, the balls may be` insertedfthrough theupperfsurface-which maygbe changed ac? cordingly, the tip andl central section may be Arnadek in one fpiece, and other changes made without i departing lfrom the Lscope yot tlreiappendedclaimsff y WhatlI 'claimasfnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent, =is:

1. Awtop tof thef character described including a tip having a plane upper surface, aV cent-rah hollow zsection with openings:v therei1i,an'dlanupper'y section, balls locatedy in said'fholl'ow'-sectionffand adapted Vto move on said planef surface and register -with the openings-inthe hollowi section.` v Y 2.l Ina top the combination of :a tip, a hollow sectionf having-I o'penings therein; Iand an upper section, astenilsecuredtosaid'tip and extending through andv beyond said sections,

` and :balls: positionedw in* said hollmvV section Y anda4 ada-ptedif to :register with4 the*` openings therein.:-

3 Inf a top tire-'combination of fatip, a hol'-` loivv-sectilon :having openingsv thereiny {and-.ian upperfsection, a stern-secured to? saidtip:` and extending; throughf-- andV beyond saida sections,l said jhol'lowl 4and upperfseetions: movable/on said stem, means for holding said members together inoperative relation, and balls p0- sitioned--in said hollow section and adapted toregister withthe openings therein.

' 4. In a top the combination of a tip, a hollowisection having openings therein, and an upper section, a stem secured to said tip and extending through-'said sections, said hollow and uppersections inovableon said stein, part ofthe stemf beingscr-eW-threaded for engagenientfwith the upper section tov hold the jsaidimemberstogether inl operative relation,I andballspositioned'insaid hollow-l section vand adapted yto-fregister ywith the openingstherein.

5. In a top the combination of a tip,.a hollow section having openingstherein,y and an yupper section,arste1n, partly screw-threaded, securedto said` tip and extendingthrough saidsections, said hollow section slidableon said' stein, the Iuppersection being threaded to engage with the screwthreaded part of thestem'to hold'tlie parts together in operative relation, -and ballsfpositioned in' said upper-section, a stem'- secured to said tip and extending through saidy sections, ballspositioned safid hollow section iandy adaptedl to register` twith `thel openings therein, and ineens for permitting 'said` lhollow section :to rotate lindependent-ly of ithel tip. 1 f

7.1In atop the combination ofla tip, a hol.- low section. :having:openingstherein, andan upper' section, a. stein: secured to said' tip .and extending through said sections, balls posi.L tionedi in1 said hollow sectiomfand "adapted to register with the openings therein, a poi tion of saidsternzheing enlarged to'prdvide a shoulder against which the upper section bearsto penmitrsaid hollow section rtdr'rotate independently oi the tip. f8.1A top :ofzithe character-described??including a hollow, independently rotatable, portion havinguopenings therein# andi` balls located@ insaid ihclflwA portion andizadapted to` register withl 'the openings thereinz i.

. f InfV testimony 1 -.where\z f;T I t'have signed Iny namefto thisspecification;-,v i 

